Chess M.D (mulit-dimensional)

ABSTRACT

A three dimensional chess game method and apparatus which features four levels, one square, non-playing surface baseboard and four square sub-levels, one quarter the size of the baseboard, adjacent and above the base board at various heights. Sub-levels are divided into sixteen squares, by combining the squares from all of the sub-levels there are sixty-four possible playing positions. The King, queen, bishop and knight acquire three dimensional movement by using the height difference between sub-levels, and using square placement on each sub-levels as equal, when the king, queen, or bishop land on a square on any sub-level, all sub-levels holds a virtual playing piece on that square location. Three dimensional movement is obtained through rotation around center point of the chess board as the piece moves from sub-level to sub-level and X,Y and Z, movements between sub-levels which is utilized by the knight.

FIELD OF INVENTION

This invention is in the field of Toys and games. It is an apparatus for chess and it's variants in the third dimension.

BACKGROUND

The traditional chess board is a square board with a single horizontal playing surface consisting of sixty-four equal sized game piece position squares. Each position square is one of two possible colors which alternate along the playing surface. The chess board design has not changed significantly over the years, and according to rules, which likewise are basically the same. The complexity of chess comes from the predetermined movement patterns of the individual pieces. All moves are restricted to the horizontal X, Y plane creating a variety of potential geometric patterns.

Three dimensional chess is not a new concept, for example Raumschach (German for space chess) is one of the oldest three dimensional chess variants and has survived until present times. Herr Doktor Ferdinald Maack invented Raumschach in 1907. The most familiar three dimensional chess, variant is Tri Dimensional chess, which was popularized by Star Trek the television series.

Many three dimensional chess games do not successfully extend traditional chess into three dimensions. They are still planar games with multi-levels and many different rules they all lack a simple way of utilizing three dimensional movements. Additionally, another problem that arises is that with multi-level games, there is a lot of territory to cover with the standard sixteen chess pieces. The added playing positions extends the playing time, making some three dimensional games monotonous and uninteresting.

Because of the increase of playing levels and pieces, multi-level playing boards are more complex than traditional chess, three dimensional chess requires more skill and playing experience, because of their multiple levels, and increased playing positions.

The present invention solves these and many other problems associated with prior art.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention's primary objective is to make the game of chess more fun and exciting, by introducing basic chemistry, physics, and math principles to extend the play into three dimensions. The present invention provides a novel three dimensional game board, consisting of one square, non-transparent base board, which is not a playing surface and four, square, transparent, sub-levels. Each sub-level is divided into sixteen playing squares of two alternating colors displayed thereon, combining the sub-levels, a total of sixty-four playing squares are available. The three dimensional game board is a multi-tier structure, the four sub-levels are raised above the base board through the use of sixty-four transparent rods. Rods are cut in three lengths, sub-level one is located one half inch above the base board and consisting of sixteen rods centered at the bottom of the squares, sub-levels two and three are both located one inch above the base board with each sub-level consisting of sixteen rods centered at the bottom of each square. Sub-level four is raised off of the base board by one and one half inches, with sixteen rods centered at the bottom of each square, sub-levels one through four are vertically displaced with respect to one another by one quarter of an inch, and with one corner from each sub-level being vertically aligned with one corner of the base board level. This creates an eight by eight matrix chess board, with sixty-four playing squares, when looked at from a bird's eye view, and looking at the board from the player's perspective, as four, four by four matrix sub-level chess boards, with a total of sixty-four playing squares and sixteen virtual folded squares in the Z dimensional axis. A quarter inch height difference is created between the boards producing sixteen virtual folded dimensional squares, folded squares are not real and can't be landed on, they are virtual squares used by the Knights to maneuver from sub-level to sub-level.

The present invention's primary objective is to make the game of chess more fun and exciting, by introducing basic chemistry, physics, and math to extend the play into three dimensions.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an interpretation of the electron ground state in atoms as a rule for movement thereon the game board by making the first row of the sub-levels equal to the zero energy row. The king, the queen, the bishop, and the knight must move off of this row in order to utilize three dimensional movement.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an interpretation of quantum superposition as a rule to move thereon the game board through the creation of virtual playing pieces consisting of the king, the queen, and the bishop. Playing pieces are located on a specific location notation playing squares which are related to each sub-level. All squares between rows two and four, and columns one through four, having the same location notation number are equal, after moving to a specific square, the player can choose to move in an X and Y pattern of modern chess, or use the location notation number to move to an equivalent square on another sub-level. If an opponent's piece is located on that square it can be captured.

Another component of the objective of the present invention is to provide an interpretation of linear transformation relationship to rotating vectors in three dimensional spaces, as a rule for movement thereon the game board. Using the location notation number of the squares found on the sub-levels a dimensional movement of rotation around the center point of the eight by eight matrix board and reflection by the bisection of the eight by eight board is created . . . . This is added to the X and Y dimensional movement of the king, the queen, and the bishop. The bishop can only use the location notation number on those sub-levels that are diagonal to its movement.

Another objective of the present invention is to keep the number of playing levels low and by keeping the three dimensional movements of the playing pieces confined to the two dimensional sub-level playing boards. The location notation number for the squares are found by counting from row two to four, bottom to top of sub-level board and by counting the columns from left to right, column one to column four of sub-level board. The first row is the zero energy row, if the king, queen, bishop or knight land on this row they must move off of it in the normal X and Y dimensional pattern as founded in two dimensional chess rules. Using the location notation number of the squares on any sub-levels creates dimensional movements of rotation and reflection around and through the center of the eight by eight matrix chess board.

The foregoing and other objective of the present invention, including the invention it self, maybe understood from the following description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is a three dimensional multi-tiered game board for playing three dimensional chess. The chess board can be made from a single mold using a variety of substance such as plastic and glass, or made without a mold from wood or other materials.

The game board, consist of one non transparent, square base board level and four square, transparent sub-levels. Sub-levels are one quarter the size of the baseboard, and divided into sixteen squares. The sub-levels are raised above the base board with sixty-four transparent rods; each sub-level is attached to sixteen transparent rods which are located under the playing squares at its center. Level one is raised off of the base board by one half of an inch, level two and three are raised above the base board by one inch and level four is raised above the base board by one and one half inches. The height difference between the sub-levels are one quarter of an inch, this height difference creates virtual folded squares in the Z axis dimension. The extra folded squares are not playing squares; they are used by the knight to move between sub-levels. The game board has a total of sixty-four playing squares; the squares on each of the sub level boards are colored so that alternating squares contrast with one another. Thirty two of the squares are clear and transparent, and the other thirty two squares are shaded with a transparent color. When light is transmitted through the sub-levels, a two dimensional, eight by eight matrix chess board is reflected off of the base board surface. This is a visual representation of the relationship between dimensional surfaces, like shadows on walls. The base board has at its center a small pyramid, the pyramid apex is aligned with the four sub-level, center corners which are vertically displaced above it. The base board and the pyramid is a visual representation of space-time and the point, or singularity where the two dimensional reflected chess board on the base board becomes a three dimensional chess board surface. As shown in FIG. 3 the sub-levels are raised above the base board on sixteen transparent rods, per sub-level, the rods are located at the center of each square providing each sub level with a different height.

Location Notation Number

To visualize the movement of the playing pieces the game board will be shown laid out as in FIG. 2, the four, four by four sub levels sub-levels are designated numbers one through four. When combined as showed in FIG. 2 the board creates an eight by eight board with sixty-four squares which can be used as playing positions. Starting from the bottom row closest to the player, the rows are labeled one through four; counting from bottom to top of the sub-level and counting from left column to right the column of the sub-level board, columns are labeled one through four. Thus, the notation for referring to any squares on the four different sub levels, where the first digit is the number designating the sub level, the second digit represents the row number, and the Third digit represents the column number. The location notation 333 designates the square on sub-level three, row three, and column three. The location notation for the other three boards; 133,233 and 433 are all equal playing squares. Moving to any one of these squares creates a dimensional movement of rotation or reflection with respect to the center point of the eight by eight matrix playing board. The king, queen, bishop and the knight must follow specific rules in order to move around the sub-levels these rules are based in the following;

First Row-Zero Energy State

The ground state electron configuration is the arrangement of electrons around the nucleus of an atom within lower energy levels; electrons occupying the orbitals of varying energy levels naturally fall towards the lowest energy state or ground state. Row one with respect to the players, is considered the ground state or zero energy state for the king, queen, bishop and knight. In order to use the three dimensional moves the playing piece must move off of row one.

Virtual Particles; King, Queen and Bishop

In quantum theory quantum particles can exist in a superposition of states at the same time and collapse down to one single state upon interaction with other particles. In physics a virtual particles is a transient quantum fluctuation that exhibits some of the characteristics of the ordinary particle, while having its' existence limited by the uncertainty principle. When the king, queen, or bishop moves off of row one, the square's location notation number that they are resting on is related to the squares on all sub-level boards that share the same location notation number. The pieces are in a quantum superposition state, thus the squares sharing the same location notation number holds a virtual particle of the pieces. Upon the player's next move after landing on a square, they have a choice to either move in a X and Y dimensional axis as found in modern chess rules, or use the location notation number to move to that square on another sub-level that shares the same location notation number, if an opponent's piece is located on that square it can be capture. This rule does not apply to the first row.

Pieces can be moved around the boards from different points of view, the first, where the boards are an eight by eight grid matrix playing board with movement in the X and Y dimensional axis following basic chess rules, and second; as a three dimensional playing board comprising four sub-level boards each having a four by four grid matrix playing board setup with location notation numbers attached to each square. Using the location notation number between sub-levels creates virtual playing pieces on all boards. Three dimensional movement is created in the form of rotation and reflection with respect to the sublevels. Each sub-level board is located at a slightly different height with respect to one another this height difference creates sixteen virtual squares that is used to create X, Y and Z dimensional axis movement for the knight to maneuver between sub-levels.

The Knight

As shown in FIG. 8 the height location of the boards provides virtual folded squares to be utilized by the knight, when the knight is located along the borders between sub-levels such as on row four, column one through four on all sub-levels one through four, along the border the knight can follow basic modern chess rules, or use the imaginary square to maneuver from sub-level to sub-level. This also applies when the knight is located on squares that are located on sub-levels two and three, column four, rows two through four, or located on sub-levels one and four, column one, rows two through four. The extra imaginary folded squares creates up to three extra playing squares to defend or capture an enemy's piece.

The King

As shown in FIG. 6 the king must first move off of row one in order to use the sub-levels as individual boards. The king can move in the normal two dimensional manner found in modern chess, or it can use the squares on the sub-levels that share a similar location notation as playing positions. A virtual King is created on all of the sub-level playing boards upon the King's next move, after landing on a designated square, he can move to another sub-level square having the same location notation number. This gives the king three extra squares to defend or attack, if the square is occupied by an enemy's piece, then that piece can be captured. This move creates a three dimensional movement in terms of rotation around the center point of the eight by eight matrix playing board and reflection, through the bisected eight by eight playing board.

The Queen

As shown in FIG. 7 the queen must first move off of the first row, zero ground state, in order to utilize the three dimensional moves on the sub-level boards. The queen can move in the normal two dimensional manner found in modern chess, or use the square's location notation number to move around the sub-levels. This gives the queen three extra squares to defend or attack. If an enemy's piece is occupying that square then the queen can capture that piece. This move creates a three dimensional movement in terms of rotation around the center point of the eight by eight matrix playing board and reflection through the bisected eight by eight matrix playing board.

The Bishop

As shown in FIG. 8 the bishop must first move off of row one in order to utilize the three dimensional moves. The bishop moves diagonally across the board as found in modern chess, by using the location notation number the bishop still moves diagonally across the board from sub-level to sub-board that are diagonally situated, but not all sub-level board location notations are available to the bishop, only the boards that are diagonal to its movement will be allowed. Using the location notation number creates up to three extra playing squares for the Bishop to defend or attack. If an enemy's piece is on the square that the bishop wants to move to, it can capture the piece. This move creates a three dimensional movement in terms of rotation around the center point of the eight by eight matrix playing board and reflection through the bisected eight by eight matrix playing board.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the chess board.

FIG. 2 is a top elevation view of the chess board.

FIG. 3 is a front elevation view of the chess board.

FIG. 4 is a left side elevation view of the chess board.

FIG. 5 is a right side elevation view of the chess board.

FIG. 6 shows the movement of the king, and the new three dimensional playing positions which is labeled as Xl.

FIG. 7 shows the movement of the queen, and the new three dimensional playing positions which is labeled as Xl.

FIG. 8 shows the movement of the knight, and the new three dimensional playing positions which is labeled as Xl.

FIG. 9 shows the movement of the bishop, and the new three dimensional playing positions which is as label as Xl.

POSSIBLE VARIATION OF THE GAME BOARD

Having described what I currently believe to be the best mode of carrying out my invention, I shall now describe possible variations to the game board, which is presented as an alternate embodiment of the invention. One possible variation of the game board is to place two different color LEDS into the base level, directly under each of the rods supporting the sub levels. The two different colors will be assigned to the two different color game pieces, such that when a piece is picked up off of the board to move, one of the two color LEDS will light up all of the potential playing positions squares. The LEDS will be controlled by a small micro-processor, light sensors and a power source, such as a battery. Players now have the option to play against an opponent or against the computer. Another alternative to the game is to place multiple LEDS into the pyramid found on the base board. The LEDS will light up whenever a player is check mated. Another alternative is substitute the pyramid shape at the center of the baseboard to any geometric shape. 

1) I claim a method for playing three dimensional chess comprising: (a) providing a tabletop apparatus for playing three dimensional chess having five levels; (b) one square, non-playing surface, base board composed of a transparent or non-transparent material, four square, sub-level playing boards composed of a transparent or non-transparent material; and (c) sixty four rods, composed of a transparent, or non-transparent material, divided into four sets of various lengths, connecting said four sub-level boards to said baseboard. 2) I claim said four sub-levels of claim 1 further includes, each said sub-level being one quarter the size of said baseboard. 3) I claim said sub-levels of claim 1 further includes, each sub-level board is divided into sixteen squares, whereby each of said square being colored with one of two different colors, said two different colors alternating between adjacent squares in each of said sub-level boards, whereby a four by four matrix playing board is formed. 4) I claim said sixty four rods of claim 1 further includes, each set of said rods located under the bottom of said sub-levels, positioned at the center of each said alternating colored squares, whereby said sixteen squares are connected to said sixteen rods. 5) I claim said sub-levels of claim 1 further includes, each said sub-level is positioned horizontally above said baseboard, with said baseboard connected to bottom of said sixteen rods for each said sub-level, one corner of each said sub-level being above one corner of said baseboard, wherein an eight by eight matrix playing board is formed. 6) I claim said sub-levels of claim 5 further includes, each of said sub-levels being horizontally above said baseboard at specific heights, and attached to each other using said sixty four rods, closest said sub-level to baseboard, is labeled level one, next said sub-levels above baseboard are labeled sub-level two and sub-level three both said sub-levels are located equidistance above said baseboard, positioned whereby one edge from each said sub-level is above and adjacent to one edge of said level one, next said sub-level above said baseboard is labeled sub-level four, said sub-level is located above said level two and said sub-level three, positioned whereby one edge from said sub-level four is above and adjacent to one edge of said sub-level two and one edge from said sub-level four is above and adjacent to said sub-level three, said four sub-levels positioned in this arrangements forms an eight by eight matrix playing chess board. 7) I claim a three dimensional chess game playing method comprising the steps of: (d) providing a tabletop apparatus for playing three dimensional chess having five levels; (e) providing two sets of chess playing pieces, each of said sets comprising at least a pawn, a rook, a knight, a bishop, a queen and a king; and (f) providing new rules for three dimensional chess, that add extra dimensional moves for said king, said queen, said bishop and said knight. 8) I claim the basic rules of three dimensional chess of claim 7, further comprising the step of: (g) one said square non-playing surface, base board, composed of a transparent or non-transparent material, four said square, sub-level playing surfaces, each said sub-level is one quarter the size of said baseboard and composed of a transparent or non-transparent material; (h) said sub-levels are positioned above said baseboard with one corner of said sub-levels directly above one corner of said baseboard, closest said sub-level to said baseboard is labeled level one, next two closest said sub-levels equidistance to said baseboard is labeled level two and level three, last sub-level, labeled level four located above said level two and level three, said level two is above said level one with one edge adjacent and above one edge of level one, level three is above level one with one edge adjacent and above one edge of said level one, said level four is above said level two and said level three, with one edge above and adjacent to one edge from said level two and one said level four edge above and adjacent to one edge from said level three; and (i) each said levels being divided into sixteen squares, whereby a four by four matrix is formed, arranging all four said levels produces an eight by eight square, playable chess board with four said sub-levels at three different heights above said baseboard, said squares on each said level are designated through a location notation number, counting rows from bottom to top and columns, from left to right, on all said levels, said squares between rows two and four, and between columns one and four, with the same said location notation numbers are equal playable squares. 9) I claim the method of claim 7, further comprising steps of: (j) defining movement of said king as allowing said king to follow basic chess rules to move around said chess board, three dimensional movement is obtained through the use of said location notation numbers for said squares located between rows two, three, and four, and columns one, two, three and four, wherein said king is allowed to move to any said level, by landing on said squares that share same said location notation numbers; (k) defining movement of said queen as allowing said queen to follow basic chess rules to move around said chess board, three dimensional movement is obtained through the use of said location notation numbers for said squares located between rows two, three and four, and columns one, two, three and four, wherein said queen is allowed to move to any said level, by landing on said squares that share same said location notation numbers; (l) defining movement of said bishop as allowing said bishop to follow basic chess rules to move around said chess board, three dimensional movement is obtained through the use of said location notation numbers for said squares located between rows two, three and four, and columns one, two, three and four, wherein said bishop is allowed to move to certain said levels, by landing on said squares that share same said location notation number, only said levels that are diagonal to the movement of said bishop; and (m) defining movement of said knight as allowing said knight to follow basic chess rules to move around said chess board, three dimensional movement is obtained through the use of said height difference between levels, whereby anytime said knight is positioned on any said square along the border of any two said levels, the movement of said knight includes moving one said square vertically and one said square horizontally. 